to win praise for his glory, by having been the first to believe in Christ.

which is the advance installment of our inheritance, so that we may get full possession of it, and praise his glory for it.

This is why I, for my part, since I have heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus that prevails among you and among all God's people,

never cease to thank God for you when I mention you in my prayers.

and how surpassingly great his power is for us who believe; like the mighty strength

far above all hierarchies, authorities, powers, and dominions, and all titles that can be bestowed not only in this world but in the world to come.

But God is so rich in mercy that because of the great love he had for us,

For it is by his mercy that you have been saved through faith. It is not by your own action, it is the gift of God.

For he has made us, creating us through our union with Christ Jesus for the life of goodness which God had predestined us to live.

But now through your union with Christ Jesus you who were once far away have through the blood of Christ been brought near.

For he is himself our peace. He has united the two divisions, and broken down the barrier that kept us apart,

He came with the good news of peace for you who were far away and for those who were near;

for it is through him that we both with one Spirit are now able to approach the Father.

and you are yourselves built up into a dwelling for God through the Spirit.

This is why I, Paul, whom Jesus the Christ has made a prisoner for the sake of you heathen??2 if at least you have heard how I dealt with the mercy of God that was given me for you,

for which I became a worker by virtue of the gift of God's mercy which by the exercise of his power he has given me.

and making clear how the secret purpose is to be worked out which has been hidden away for ages in God the creator of all things,

So I ask that what I am having to suffer for your sake may not make me lose heart, for it does you honor.

For this reason I kneel before the Father

and to understand Christ's love, so far beyond our understanding, so that you may be filled with the very fulness of God.

So I, the prisoner for the Lord's sake, appeal to you to live lives worthy of the summons you have received;

in order to fit his people for the work of service, for building the body of Christ,

For it is under his control that the whole system, adjusted and united by each ligament of its equipment, develops in proportion to the functioning of each particular part, and so builds itself up through love.

for they have become callous, and abandoned themselves to sensuality, greedily practicing every kind of vice.

So you must lay aside falsehood and each tell his neighbor the truth, for we are parts of one another.

You must not offend God's holy Spirit, with which you have been marked for the Day of Redemption.

and lead loving lives, just as Christ loved you and gave himself for you, as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

For you may be sure that no one who is immoral, or greedy for gain (for that is idolatry) can have any share in the Kingdom of Christ and God.

For once you were sheer darkness, but now, as Christians, you are light itself. You must live like children of light,

for light leads to perfect goodness, uprightness, and truth;

For while it is degrading even to mention their secret practices,

and make the most of your opportunity, for these are evil times.

Do not get drunk on wine, for that is profligacy, but be filled with the Spirit,

always give thanks for everything to God our Father, as followers of our Lord Jesus Christ,

for a husband is the head of his wife, just as Christ is the head of the church, which is his body, and is saved by him.

You who are husbands must love your wives, just as Christ loves the church and gave himself for her,

for no one ever hates his own person, but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ does with the church,

for we are parts of his body.

Children, as Christians obey your parents, for that is right.

Do your duties heartily and willingly, as though it were for the Lord, not for men,

for you know that everyone, slave or free, will be rewarded by the Lord for his good conduct.

You who are masters, too, must treat your slaves in the same way, and cease to threaten them, for you know that their Master and yours is in heaven, and that he will show no partiality.

For we have to struggle, not with enemies of flesh and blood, but with the hierarchies, the authorities, the master-spirits of this dark world, the spirit-forces of evil on high.

Besides all these, take faith for your shield, for with it you will be able to put out all the flaming missiles of the evil one,

and take salvation for your helmet, and for your sword the Spirit, which is the voice of God.

Use every kind of prayer and entreaty, and at every opportunity pray in the Spirit. Be on the alert about it; devote yourselves constantly to prayer for all God's people

and for me, that when I open my lips I may be given a message, so that I may boldly make known the secret of the good news,

for the sake of which I am an envoy, and in prison. Pray that, when I tell it, I may have the courage to speak as I ought.

God's blessing be with all who have an unfailing love for our Lord Jesus Christ.